Folorunsho Alakija, others unveil Africa Cinematography Festival

THE Africa Cinematography Festival (ACF) featuring training workshops, conferences and film technology expo, has been unveiled.

An initiative of Sunnie Odafe and Henry Emenike, the festival’s main objective is improving the skills of young filmmakers and professionals in the film industry.

Speaking at the unveiling of the festival at Eko Hotels, Victoria, Lagos, co-founder, Odafe, explained that unlike existing festivals that focus on film exhibitions, the ACFis about training, production enhancement, networking and empowerment of the youth as well as industry players in film, TV, radio and all aspects of the arts.

His partner, Emenike, described the festival as a child of necessity. The chief executive of Germany-based Legacy Empire Management (LEM), said:  “The ACF envisions a new era and embodies an industry buoyed by technological advancement. As a platform, it will provide renowned and emerging cinematography equipment manufacturers and their local partners a huge window for expansion into the Nigerian market.

“Through the ACF, we want to provide a platform for trust and partnership between the manufacturers of these equipment and filmmakers. There is a huge technology gap in our local film production. With the ACF, we are hopeful of bridging this gap by creating a meeting point for both cinematography equipment manufacturers and film makers.”

Founding Ambassador and Director General, Event Coordination of the festival, Mrs. Judith Alakija, explained that it would provide “our youths across Nigeria and Africa, a great future and self-employment opportunity. It provides all industry players and stakeholders the platform for optimization of the inherent potentials and prospects of technological advancement in audio-visual, sound, light and still photo productions.”

The ACF, she further noted, “is going to champion a departure from the old model of film-making, sound production, light production and entertainment, to a new all-inclusive one that will promote youth entrepreneurship and accord our country a place among the leading nations with a healthy filmmaking and entertainment economy.”

Grand Matron of the festival and renowned entrepreneur, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, spoke in the same vein: “I feel convinced that the ACF speaks to the Nigerian spirit, but much more importantly the yearning of many of our talented men and women who presently appear to have hit the crossroads between their dreams and their realization. Our youths need to be taught life skills and be empowered with adequate capacity required to enable them become major contributors to the economy and society. Obviously, it is a worthwhile venture to undertake.”

She reiterated her belief in the festival, saying “the Africa Cinematography Festival (ACF) is a platform that I am proud of and also share huge optimism in its ability to contribute immensely to the overall development of the nation and particularly the movie industry.”

Happening in November in six venues across Lagos, partners of the festival include the Nigeria Film Corporation, National Film and Video Censors Board, Germany-based equipment manufacturers, ARRI and Bells University of Technology.